Rotterdam International Secondary School vs Theodore International Startup Academy
Rotterdam International Secondary School and Theodore International Startup Academy are both in Rotterdam, about 25 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Rotterdam International Secondary School also offers BTEC Qualification and Cambridge IGCSE, and Theodore International Startup Academy also offers Dutch. Published annual fees are close, at €9,160 - 10,290 for Rotterdam International Secondary School and €9,800 for Theodore International Startup Academy. Rotterdam International Secondary School takes pupils from 11 to 18, and Theodore International Startup Academy from 3 to 12. Typical class sizes are 18 at Rotterdam International Secondary School and 16 at Theodore International Startup Academy.
Rotterdam International Secondary School operates on two campuses in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Junior Campus is located at Bentincklaan 294, 3039 KK Rotterdam. The Senior Campus is located at Schimmelpenninckstraat 23, 3039 KS Rotterdam. Contact numbers are +31 (0) 10 890 7744 (Junior) and +31 (0) 10 890 7755 (Senior).
Location
Lorentzkade 15a, Leiden 2313 GB, The Netherlands.
Stages
Stages
Foundation Years (Grades 6-8); Middle Years (Grades 9-10); Senior Years (Grades 11-12).
- There is no separate application fee to submit an application. Families are charged fees only after a student has been admitted and started attending school.
Registration fee and security deposit
- New student registration fee: € 250 (per student). This administration fee is charged after placement. - New student security deposit: € 500 (per student). The deposit is paid on acceptance of a placement and secures the student's place. The security deposit is not refundable if the student does not enter the school. The deposit is held while the student is enrolled and is fully refundable when the student leaves, provided there is no outstanding money owed and required proof of leaving documentation has been completed; outstanding debts will be deducted from the deposit.
Tuition fees (annual) by year group
- Grades 6–9: € 9,160 per year. - Grade 10: € 8,890 per year. - Grade 11: € 10,290 per year. (A Chromebook charge of € 400 is shown separately for Grade 11 new entrants.) - Grade 12: € 9,950 per year.
- The published tuition figures include a capital fee (capital maintenance) of € 500 per child, the cost of the annual school trip for Grades 6–9 and Grade 11, the Grade 9 GDC contribution and a PTA contribution of € 20 per child; those included items are non-refundable if a student leaves during the school year.
Instalment payment schedules (example breakdowns and dates for the 2025–2026 academic year)
- Instalment option: the school offers payment in five instalments. An instalment-payment charge of € 60 per student is applied when choosing instalments. A single full payment avoids the € 60 instalment charge and receives a € 100 discount on the school fees. Payment option choices must be submitted using the school declaration form by the stated deadline.
- Instalment dates (2025–2026 example): - 1st instalment due by 01/10/25 - 2nd instalment due by 01/11/25 - 3rd instalment due by 01/12/25 - 4th instalment due by 01/01/26 - 5th instalment due by 01/02/26 - Payments must be made without deduction within 14 days or before the stipulated due date on the invoice.
- Instalment examples (showing new/returning and first/second child distinctions): - Grades 6–9 (school fee € 9,160): instalment totals and per-instalment amounts vary by first/second child and new/returning status; example instalment amounts when invoiced by instalments are listed in the school fee booklet under the Grade 6–9 section. Single-payment totals reflect the removal of the € 60 instalment charge and a € 100 discount. - Grade 10 (school fee € 8,890): five equal instalments of € 1,940 for a first child new-student instalment schedule are shown for 2025–2026; single-payment totals similarly show the € 100 discount applied. Exact instalment amounts by category are available in the detailed instalment tables. - Grade 11 (school fee € 10,290 plus Chromebook € 400): instalment schedules show five instalments of € 2,300 (first-child new-student example) for 2025–2026; totals for single payment remove the € 60 instalment-charge and include the € 100 discount. - Grade 12 (school fee € 9,950): instalment schedules show five instalments of € 2,152 (first-child new-student example) for 2025–2026; single-payment totals remove the instalment charge and include the € 100 discount.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Invoices are issued by the central administration of the Wolfert van Borselen Schoolgroup. Payment details and the bank account number are supplied with the invoice. Invoices are sent by e-mail (WisCollect). Debtors can pay invoices using iDEAL or by manual bank transfer; when making manual transfers, the invoice number and student name must be given as the payment reference. Company payments must use the single-payment option. Payment option forms must be returned by the stated deadline. Payments must be made without deduction within 14 days or before the invoice due date. Late or outstanding payments are subject to collection procedures by the central administration.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered at this school. Students must live with a parent or guardian in the Netherlands; boarding fees are therefore not applicable.
Other costs and fees
- Chromebook (Grade 11 new students): € 400 (charged separately in the Grade 11 fee breakdown). - Instalment payment charge: € 60 per student if paying by instalments (pro‑rata for families joining mid-year). Single full payment removes this charge. - Textbook replacement: unreturned textbooks are charged at € 25 per book to cover replacement costs. - Examination fees (additional, invoiced separately): approximate ranges apply and are charged by the external awarding bodies; approximate costs for 2025–2026 are shown as: - Grade 10 IGCSE (10 subjects): approximately € 850–€ 1,050. - Grade 12 IB Diploma: approximately € 850. - Grade 12 IB Career-related Programme: approximately € 850. Examination fees must be paid before registration; students will not be entered for exams if examination fees or other outstanding payments are unpaid. Additional late-registration charges or fees resulting from incorrect information are passed on to parents/guardians. - Field trips/day excursions and some optional or specialist trips (for example ski trips) may carry additional small charges; some day or weekend trips and certain external language assessments are excluded from the tuition fee and will be invoiced separately. Snacks/lunch, travel to/from school and library late fees are not included in the tuition fee. - A graphics calculator is supplied for all Grade 9 students and for new Grade 10 and 11 students; loss or damage requiring replacement is charged to the family.
Refund information and leaving/entry pro rata rules
- Capital fee, the annual school trip contributions for specified grades and the PTA contribution included in the tuition are non-refundable if a student leaves during the school year. The security deposit is refundable on leaving provided there are no outstanding debts and proof of leaving documentation is submitted; the security deposit is not refundable if the student never takes up the offered place. Textbook replacement charges may be deducted from the deposit where applicable. - Pro rata rules for fees due on entry and fees due on leaving are published as a monthly percentage table. Example percentages for fees due on leaving in the 2025–2026 schedule include: August 50%, September 50%, October 50%, November 50%, December 50%, January 60%, February 70%, March 80%, April 90%, May 100%, June 100%, July 100% (the booklet contains the full month-by-month entry and leaving percentages).
Fee payment options
- Payment by single full payment (preferred) or by instalments (five instalments) is available. Single full payment receives a € 100 per-student discount and avoids the € 60 instalment charge. Instalment payments are processed by the central administration and attract the € 60 instalment charge per student. Company payments must be completed by the single-payment option. Invoices are issued by the central administration; payment can be made via iDEAL or by manual bank transfer (use invoice number and student name as reference).
Summary of the most common immediate costs to expect at admission
- Registration fee: € 250 (new students). - Security deposit: € 500 (new students). - Annual tuition (by grade): Grades 6–9 € 9,160; Grade 10 € 8,890; Grade 11 € 10,290 (plus Chromebook € 400 shown separately); Grade 12 € 9,950. - Optional/additional: examination fees and trip charges as invoiced separately; textbook replacement at € 25 per book if required.
Fee details
Application fees and registration deposit
- Registration deposit: EUR 500 to confirm an application and secure a place. The deposit is paid at the time of submission of the admission application.
Tuition fees (by year group and per term/month)
- Annual tuition (all primary year groups): EUR 9,800 per academic year. The school lists this single tuition figure for its primary programme (no differentiated tuition by year group is published).
- Monthly instalments: the school bills in monthly instalments; the equivalent monthly instalment shown on the school's grade page is EUR 816 per month.
- Per term (calculation): the school does not publish a formal per-term fee, but for reference EUR 9,800 per year is equal to approximately EUR 3,266.67 if divided into three equal academic terms (EUR 9,800 ÷ 3 = EUR 3,266.67). This is a straight arithmetic division of the published annual tuition.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- School fees must be paid in advance and are collected in monthly instalments. Admission and continuation of education require timely payment. A signed School Fee Agreement is required during the admission process and creates the contractual obligation to pay school fees.
- The registration deposit of EUR 500 is used to confirm registration and the school notes that the deposit counts as payment for the first month once a place is reserved. Hold on a place is maintained for two weeks pending signing of the School Fee Agreement.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered as part of the primary programme; the school operates as a day school with an after-school (BSO) programme. No boarding fees apply.
After‑school care / additional hourly services
- After‑school / BSO fee: EUR 11.69 per hour (the after‑school offer is listed separately from the core tuition and is subsidised under the Dutch BSO system). The after‑school programme is charged on an hourly basis.
Other costs and optional fees
- Lunches: daily healthy, organic warm meals are provided by an in‑house chef; specific meal prices are not published in the core tuition summary. Lunch provision is listed as an available service.
- Extracurricular programmes and clubs (optional): music school lessons, instrument tuition, summer camps and special programmes have separate published prices (for example, the school's music school and summer camp pages list fees for those programmes). These optional programme fees are charged in addition to tuition when selected.
- Uniform and branded merchandise: a school shop / uniform shop is available; uniform and merchandise are sold through the TISA Shop. Specific uniform item prices are listed in the shop at the time of purchase.
- Transfers (optional): school transfer/transport from surrounding areas is offered for an additional cost; families are asked to contact the school for details.
Refund information and withdrawal
- A signed School Fee Agreement is required and governs obligations to pay school fees; the school states that admission requests will only be processed when the School Fee Agreement is signed. The School Fee Agreement sets the contractual terms for fees, withdrawals and any refunds. Specific refund terms and any conditions for refunds are set out in the School Fee Agreement (parents are required to sign that agreement as part of admission).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Foundation Years (Grades 6–8); Middle Years (Grades 9–10); Senior Years (Grades 11–12). The Foundation Years include the RISS Rose Programme, an experiential learning track inspired by the Rose Report. The Middle Years include the RISS Reach course, an interdisciplinary middle-years subject that connects to IGCSE studies and prepares students for the IB Career-related Programme and IB Diploma Programme core. In the Senior Years, students pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) and the IB Career-related Programme (CP). The DP core components are Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay. The CP combines a BTEC International Level 3 Diploma in Business with three IB DP subjects, and there is a curriculum scope and sequence for Grades 11 and 12 CP.
Curriculum details
TISA Leiden offers three stages: Primary stage (3-12 years) started August 2022; Middle stage (12-16 years) planned start August 2026; Diploma stage (17-18 years) planned start August 2030. The Core programme runs 08:30–13:00 and includes Math, English, Science, Sports, Literature, Dutch, Social Studies, Chess, Languages, Jiu Jitsu, and Choreography; Arts and Craft, Music (Choir & Solfedjio), Drama; Extra: Swimming Lessons. The TISA MBA is a 24-module business education programme for children aged 4–18 that builds 21st-century skills, creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and leadership; modules include My First Project, Economics through Fairy Tales, Financial Literacy, My Company, Customer Development, Internet of Things. In the afternoon, 13:00–17:30, Professional tracks cover Track 1 STEM and Track 2 CAD. The school emphasises an entrepreneurial mindset and 21st-century skills and combines best practices from education systems across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Events include TISA MBA Conference, STEAM Fest, theatre performances, Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and Assessment Week.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
Cambridge Exams are part of the assessment framework, covering G0: Language and Math Development; G1: Literacy and Mathematics; Personal, social and emotional development; and G2/3, G4/5, G6/7: Mathematics, Arithmetic, Reading, Spelling, and Developed Ability. Academic achievements include World Robotics Olympiad podium finishes (e.g., 5th place for Alexander H. and Egor I. in Robosport; 8th place for Fedor K. and Miroslav P.) and WRO Business Projects outcomes, along with rankings in the International Math Olympiad and Leiden chess events.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Step 1: Check eligibility criteria and begin the application via OpenApply. If your child meets the eligibility criteria, begin the application after reading the information on this page. The OpenApply system collects initial information about you and your child(ren) and guides you to the next steps.
Step 2: Fill in the requested information about you and your child(ren). Provide accurate information; you can save progress and return later. If you need assistance, the Admissions Team can guide you through this step.
Step 3: Submit your application. The Admissions Team can view your submission and guide you if needed. The Admissions Team begins reviewing only after all required documents are submitted. Once the review begins, you will be contacted with the next steps, including an interview with the Head of Years, attended by you and your child(ren).
Step 4: Upload all required documents in the checklist. Upload all required documents in the OpenApply checklist and ensure they are complete. Use the OpenApply checklist as your guide for completing any remaining steps in the application. The Admissions Team can assist if you need help with documents.
Step 5: Capacity and programme information. SCHOOL YEAR 2025-2026: Foundation Years (Grades 6-8) open for all grades; Middle Years (Grade 9-10) limited capacity for Grade 9 and Grade 10 is full; Senior Years (Grade 11-12) limited capacity for Grade 11; Grade 12 is full. SCHOOL YEAR 2026-2027: Foundation Years (Grades 6-8) open for all grades; Middle Years open for all grades; Senior Years open for both DP and CP programmes. RISS offers a Learning Diversity Programme, with availability dependent on students entering or leaving the programme. For Grades 10 and 12, admission requires prior study of IGCSE or IBDP/CP and subject alignment; provide details of current subjects and syllabus codes (IGCSE), or progress in CAS, EE and TOK (IBDP) during the application process for transfer assessment.
Admissions
1. Submit the Application. Prospective families must submit the online Admission Application Form and pay a €500 deposit to confirm registration; this deposit serves as payment for the first month's tuition. Applications should ideally be submitted three months prior to the start of a new school year, though they are accepted throughout the academic year. Earlier applications increase the likelihood of enrollment. The TISA academic year runs from September to mid-July. For mid-year entries, student placement is based on the grade most recently completed at the previous school.
2. School Tour/Meeting. The Admission Team carefully reviews each application and schedules a school tour and meeting with the prospective family. The purpose of this meeting is for the school and the family to become acquainted and to address any questions. Tours can be scheduled via the provided calendar link.
3. Sign the Agreement. Following the meeting, the school reserves the applicant's spot—including any applicable discounts—for a period of two weeks, pending the signing of the School Fee Agreement. Once the document is signed, families receive a formal placement confirmation and onboarding instructions for new TISA students. Signing the School Fee Agreement officially confirms the obligation to pay the associated school fees.
